Chitnis

Last updated

Chitnis, Chitnavis or Chitnavese was a title conferred on one who held the office of Secretary of State or "political secretary" in the Maratha Empire. The post was considered to be of equal status to the post of the council of eight ministers or Ashta Pradhan although it was not part of that group. The office of the Chitnis was responsible for all political and diplomatic correspondence but like other officers of the state they were also obligated to perform Military service. [1] [2] [3]

Deshpande writes :

"As Malhar Ramrao observed, it was not enough for the Chitnis to be literate; his office was political, and he had to often read the king's mind and anticipate his intentions, which required much imagination and intelligence." [4]

This surname may be found among Deshastha Rigvedi Brahmin (DRB) and Chandraseniya Kayastha Prabhu (CKP) communities. [5] [6]

Notable people

Notable people with the surname include:

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Peshwa</span> Title of the prime minister of the Maratha Empire

The Peshwa was second highest office in the Maratha Confederacy, next in rank and prestige only to that of the Chhatrapati. Initially serving as the appointed prime minister in the Maratha empire, the office became hereditary after the death of Shahu in 1749. During the reign of Shahu, the office of Peshwa became incredibly powerful and the Peshwas came to be the de facto rulers of the Maratha empire. However following the defeat of the Marathas in 1761, the office of the Peshwa became titular as well and from that point onwards served as the ceremonial head of the Confederacy underneath the Chhatrapati.

The Bhonsle are a prominent group within the Maratha clan system of kunbi origin. They claimed descent from the Sisodia Rajputs but were likely Kunbi tiller-plainsmen.

Kulkarni is a family name native to the Indian state of Maharashtra and parts of Karnataka. The name "Kulkarni" is a combination of two words. Kula means "family", and Karanika means "archivist". Historically, Kulkarni was the title given to the village record keeper.

The Patil is an Indian last name and a title or surname. The female variant of the title is Patlin or Patlinbai, and is also used to describe the wife of a Patil.

Deshastha Brahmin is a Hindu Brahmin subcaste mainly from the Indian state of Maharashtra and North Karnataka. Other than these states, according to authors K. S. Singh, Gregory Naik and Pran Nath Chopra, Deshastha Brahmins are also concentrated in the states of Telangana (which was earlier part of Hyderabad State and Berar Division), Andhra Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh (Which was earlier part of Central Provinces and Berar) Historian Pran Nath Chopra and journalist Pritish Nandy say, "Most of the well-known saints from Maharashtra, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh were Deshastha Brahmins". The mother tongue of Deshastha Brahmins is either Marathi, Kannada or Telugu.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chitpavan Brahmins</span> Indian Brahmin sub-caste inhabiting Konkan region

The Chitpavan Brahmin or the Konkanastha Brahmin is a Hindu Maharashtrian Brahmin community inhabiting Konkan, the coastal region of the state of Maharashtra. Initially working as messengers and spies in the late seventeenth century, the community came into prominence during the 18th century when the heirs of Peshwa from the Bhat family of Balaji Vishwanath became the de facto rulers of the Maratha empire. Until the 18th century, the Chitpavans were held in low esteem by the Deshastha, the older established Brahmin community of Karnataka-Maharashtra region.

Deshmukh (IAST:Dēśamukh), is a historical title conferred to the rulers of a Dēśamukhi. It is used as a surname in certain regions of India, specifically in the states of Maharashtra, Karnataka, Telangana Andhra Pradesh and nothern parts of Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat, goa whose family received it as a title.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Telugu Brahmin</span> Community of Telugu speaking Brahmins

Telugu Brahmins are Telugu-speaking Brahmin communities native to the Indian states of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. They fall under the Pancha Dravida Brahmin classification of the Brahmin community in India. Telugu Brahmins are further divided into sections like Vaidiki, Niyogi, Deshastha, Dravida and Golkonda Vyapari.

Deshpande is a surname native to the Indian states of Maharashtra, Goa and Karnataka. The surname can be also found in some parts of Andhra Pradesh. Deshpande surname is found among the Deshastha Brahmins, Gaud Saraswat Brahmins (GSB) and the Chandraseniya Kayastha Prabhus (CKP).

Chandraseniya Kayastha Prabhu (CKP) is an ethnic group mainly found in Gujarat and Maharashtra. Historically, they made equally good warriors, statesmen as well as writers. They held the posts such as Deshpande and Gadkari according to the historian, B.R. Sunthankar, produced some of the best warriors in Maharashtrian History.

Desai is an Indian administrative, princely or honorary title and surname.

Pant or Panta is a last name, commonly found in Nepal and in the Indian states of Uttarakhand and Maharashtra. It is a traditional surname used by Brahmins, a priestly community. Foremostly involved in the activities of the state, they were generally found involved in activities such as academics, religion, management, politics and warfare.

Deshastha Brahmin surnames are derived by adding the suffix kar or e to the village from which the family originally hailed. For example, Akhegaonkar came from the village Akhegaon, Bidkar came from the town of Bid, Yadwadkar came from Yadwad Nagpurkar comes from the city Nagpur, Virkar came from the village Vira or Veer, the Marathi poet V. V. Shirwadkar, colloquially known as Kusumagraj, came from the town of Shirwad, Dharwadkar from the town of Dharwad, and Bijapurkar from the town of Bijapur in Karnataka. Examples of Surnames with suffix e are Purandare from the village of Purandhar.

Marathi Brahmins are communities native to the Indian state of Maharashtra. They are classified into mainly three sub-divisions based on their places of origin, "Desh", "Karad" and "Konkan". The Brahmin subcastes that come under Maharashtra Brahmins include Deshastha, Chitpavan (Konkanastha), Saraswat, Karhade, and Devrukhe.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Maratha titles</span> Titles used by Maratha community of India

The following list includes a brief about the titles of nobility or orders of chivalry used by the Marathas of India and by the Marathis/Konkanis in general.

Karanam or Karnam was an office and title native to the Indian states of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. Traditionally, Karanam was an official who maintained the accounts and records of the villages and collected the taxes. Karanam was one of the two village-level administrative posts that existed in Andhra along with 'Munasabu' (Munsiff). The Karanam kept an elaborate system of village accounts.

The Prabhu communities are a group of related Hindu castes found in Maharashtra, India. There are four such castes, all having different ritual and social status within the caste system of Maharashtra. They are Chandraseniya Kayastha Prabhu, Pathare Prabhu, Kanchole Prabhus and the Danved Prabhu.

Shakakarte Chhatrapati Shri Shivaji Maharaj yanche Saptaprakaranatmak Charitra, better known as Chitnis Bakhar, is a Marathi language biography of Shivaji, the founder of the Maratha Empire. It was written by Malhar Ram Rao Chitnis, whose ancestor Balaji Avaji held the position of Chitnis under Shivaji.

References

  1. M. V. Kamath (1995). Devi Ahalyabai Holkar. Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan. The ' Chitnavese ' ( Chitnis ) was a Secretary of State , in whose office was carried on all political correspondence , as directed by the prince , either public or confidential
  2. Surendra Nath Sen (1976). Administrative System of the Marathas. K. P. Bagchi. Outside the council but in no way inferior to the eight ministers was the Chitnis
  3. R.S. Chaurasia (2004). History of the Marathas. Atlantic Publishers & Dist. p. 193. ISBN   978-81-269-0394-8. The Diwan was the principal executive officer and controlled other officials. He was assisted by the Phadnavis or chief accountant the financial officer (the Potnis or treasurer) the chitnis or political secretary, the sabnis or daftardar, who keeps records, and some other subordinate officers......Maratha government being a semi military institution all officers of the state including the ministers were under an obligation to perform military service also.
  4. Prachi Deshpande (2007). Creative Pasts: Historical Memory and Identity in Western India, 1700-1960. Columbia University Press. p. 38. ISBN   978-0-231-12486-7. As Malhar Ramrao observed, it was not enough for the Chitnis to be literate; his office was political, and he had to often read the king's mind and anticipate his intentions, which required much imagination and intelligence
  5. R.S. Chaurasia (2004). History of the Marathas. p. 30. ISBN   9788126903948. The leaders of Deshastha Brahmins were the three sons of Raghunath Malhar Kulkarni of Nagodi , known as Aba Chitnis , Krishnoba Chitnis and Gopal Bhau
  6. The Illustrated Weekly of India, Volume 91, Part 3. Published for the proprietors, Bennett, Coleman & Company, Limited, at the Times of India Press. 1970. p. 8.